May 2010 Newsletter

As the newsletter goes to print we must express our condolences with the family of the late Mr Charles Evans of Evans Bros Auctioneers.

SHOW SEASON

Yes the show season is just around the corner for a number of members. As Officials of the Society we wish to remind you of a few pointers which has come to our attention from a number of Show Societies.

Please note the following guidelines:-

Dress Code while showing

Please wear a white coat where possible i.e. most major shows.

Shirt/tie, dark/plain coloured trousers/skirt.

Appropriate footwear (no flip flops)

Sheep

All sheep to have been clean shorn after the 1st January of the current year.

Llanwenog are shown trimmed.

No substances containing toxic chemicals or bloom or colour to have been applied.

No animals should enter the show field if they have any contagious or infections i.e. eye infections/orf.

White halter.

Ensure you clear/pull off most of the straw from underneath belly/feet before entering the show ring.

Baby oil may be applied to the face.

Feed requirements

Please ensure to take plenty of feed for the sheep if you are on the showground for a couple of days/night i.e. straw, hay, feed, water buckets, hay nets/holder, hard food troughs etc.

Ram Registrations

As in the previous years there will be no Ram Inspection centres for 2010. There will be two dates for ram registrations. All males which will be sold in the Annual Show and Sales must be registered between the 1st and 7th July 2010. Males can be registered between the 1st and 7th September. Forms will be sent out in June.

Please keep in mind the breed type. See below.

Type of Excellence

Faults

Head

Fine and hornless.

Black and free from speckles.

A small tuft of wool on forehead. At times this tuft extends in a thin line to join neck wool immediately in front of ears, but a distinct break is preferable.

Excessive or dark wool on head.

Brown or white patches of hair on face.

Bad mouth with overshot or undershot jaw.

Definite horn on either sex

(scurf permissible).

Ears

Short and thin, set at elevated angle of about twenty (20) degrees.

Distance between ears comparatively narrow.

Very large and low set.

Body

Compact with a fairly short neck, well sprung of ribs, strong loin and full thighs.

Poor size or weight for age ratio.

Weak behind the shoulder.

Males – uneven or very small testicles.

Legs

Black and free from speckles.

Poor feet and low pasterns.

Legs crooked or turned in or out.

Excessive wool on legs and white spots of hair.

Wool

Rather short, dense and of fine texture, free from kemp and black fibres (broglo).

Weight of fleece – two to two and a half kilos (2- 2½ kilos).

Loose or open fleece.

Black or brown wool on body.

Tail

Docked, in line with the minimum specified in current Animal welfare Regulations.

Docked too short.

Black wool in stump of tail.

Weights

Although not mandatory, it is considered that the weights of rams at the time of registration should be:

Lambs 35kgs Yearlings 70kgs

Registration

Rams

Application for registration of lambs and yearlings rams should be lodged with the Secretary on the appropriate form between 1st – 7th July and 1st – 7th September annually. No late applications will be entertained. (Forms will be sent out during June).

The registration fee to be £20-00 per ram.

GENOTYPE TESTED STOCK

An interest has been shown by members to purchase stock that is still being genotyped for scrapie supsepability i.e. ARR/ARR. Please contact Secretary if you are still privately testing.

ANNUAL SHOWS AND SALES 2010

Please note it is planned to have pair classes for the ewes and ewe lambs for Llanybydder and Worcester Show and Sale.

SHOW SUCCESS FOR 2010 SEASON

In the annual Flock Book a list of Show successes has been published. This has been very encouraging for members. For some of you, the show season has already commenced. As Officials of the Society we ask you kindly to record the successes you have had on the enclosed form.

All this information will be published in the Flock Book. By doing this we hope that it will encourage more members to compete in different classes e.g. Rare Breed Classes or other Classes or Fleece Classes.

Please feel free to photocopy if you need more forms.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARIES

Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th May 2010 – Small Holder Weekend at The Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells. For further details contact The Royal Welsh Agricultural Society on 01982 554403.

Further details available from the event organiser – Julie Sedgewick. Telephone number 01388 664496 or 0777041425.

Wednesday 16th June 2010 - NSA South Sheep at Chibolton Down Farm, Stockbridge, Hampshire. Society’s stand will be attending.

Further details available from the event organiser - Sue Martyn. Telephone number 01409 271385.

Sunday 20th June 2010 - At the Three Counties Countryside Show, the Showground Malvern. The Rare Breeds Survival Trust will hold Llanwenog classes at the Show. For further details and schedules contact the Three Counties Agricultural Society on 01684 584900.

1st - 7th July 2010 – Closing date for Ram Registrations.

3rd July 2010 – Llanwenog Sheep Breeders Annual General Meeting and Visit to St Fagans National History Museum, Cardiff. For further details contact Brian Williams on 01530 413050 or Charles Horton on 01285 850905/07831 489694.

Friday 16th July 2010 – Closing date for the Annual Show and Sale at Llanybydder.

Monday 19th - Thursday 22nd July 2010 - Royal Welsh Show at Builth Wells. For Schedules contact The Show Office on 01982 554403. Society’s stand will be attending.

Friday 30th July 2010 – Closing date for the Annual Show and Sale at Worcester.